1.
The
goal of the Colleague Evaluation Committee (CEC) is to provide a
complete and candid annual evaluation of non-tenured faculty
(probationary faculty) as mandated by the Faculty Manual. The
committee members will become thoroughly familiar with the candidate's
work, so as to advise both the candidate and the dean of observed
strengths and weaknesses.
The committee will base its evaluation on formal and informal observations
of the three major areas of professional responsibility: teaching,
research/creative activity, and service. Non-tenured faculty
will be reviewed by a Colleague Evaluation Committee in each year
of their probationary period with the exception of the year in
which they will undergo the Third Year Formal Review of Tenure
Progress.
2.
Selection
At
the beginning of the candidate's first semester, the dean, in consultation
with the chair of the School of Music T&P committee, will appoint
a three-person Colleague Evaluation Committee and appoint a chairperson
of the committee. The committee will be comprised of three tenured,
full-time faculty members and will normally include:
- One member from the
candidate's specific area of expertise
- One additional member
within the candidate's area.
- One member from outside
the candidate's immediate area.
In
the initial appointment, one of the three members should be chosen
from the search committee that recommended the candidate, if at all
possible.
3.
Terms
of membership
The
total number of faculty evaluators over a six-year probationary period
will normally be seven. Terms of membership will be staggered,
when possible, as indicated in the table below. It is possible
for a member who rotates off to be reappointed to the committee
at a later date.
Committee membership will remain constant during years one and two.
The dean will appoint new members (and chair) as required above.
Normally, when a member of the colleague evaluation committee is
on leave for a semester, the membership will be two.
4.
Procedures
Evaluation
of colleagues will be based on all three areas of professional responsibility:
teaching, research/creative activity, and service. CEC members will
have access to the candidate's annual Faculty Activities Reports.
Faculty Activities Reports will be due to the dean at least two weeks
prior to the annual spring Tenure and Promotion Committee Meeting
(approximately March 15). Committee members will, where possible,
attend performances of the candidate, read professional papers, and
generally keep abreast of the candidate's work in research and performance.
Probationary faculty members will be responsible for keeping the CEC
informed of these activities.
With
respect to teaching, each committee member will observe the teaching
of the candidate at least once per year, avoiding the final two or
three weeks of the semester. In the event the candidate teaches
in more than one setting (e.g. applied lessons, classroom, or rehearsal),
the committee will arrange to observe the candidate teaching in each
setting. Committee members will always consult with the candidate
in scheduling teaching observations.
5.
Meetings
The
CEC members will meet privately at least once each year, prior to
the annual spring T & P Committee Meeting, and write a CEC report.
6.
Written
Reports/Major Formal Evaluations
- A copy of the CEC report
will be forwarded to the probationary faculty member and the dean
prior to the annual spring T & P Committee Meeting.
- The Chair of the CEC
will read the CEC report at annual spring T & P Committee Meeting.
- T&P committee members
may write letters to the dean within two weeks after the Spring
T&P Committee meeting expressing support or concern for individual
probationary faculty members. The letters are informational as related
only to annual evaluation and do not become part of the formal tenure
and promotion file.
- The dean will utilize
the CEC report as part of his/her Annual Performance Review of the
Probationary Faculty Member.
7.
The
dean and the chair of the CEC will meet annually with the probationary
faculty member to discuss the CEC report, and the dean's Annual Performance
Review. The annual performance review will be considered:
- "superior"
if the dean concludes that a minimum of two evaluation areas rate
special commendation
- "satisfactory"
if no more than one performance area receives a rating of "unsatisfactory"
- "unsatisfactory"
if 2 or more performance areas receive a rating of "unsatisfactory"
8.
In
the case of an unsatisfactory review, a faculty member who wishes
to appeal may do so by submitting a written statement of appeal to
the Chair of the Select T&P Committee within the first two weeks
of the fall semester. The Chair of the Select T&P Committee
will immediately schedule a meeting of the Post Tenure/Annual Performance
Review Appeals Committee (Appeals Committee) and the candidate in
order to discuss his appeal. In the event that an elected member
of the Appeals Committee also served as a member of the CEC for the
grieving faculty member, the faculty member will be recused from deliberations
on the Appeals Committee.
9.
A
written summary of the Appeals Committee's findings will then be sent
to the dean. The Probationary Faculty member's written
appeal will become a part of his/her permanent file.
10.
The
written summary of the Review Appeals Committee, along with the faculty
member's annual report, and his/her written appeal statement will
be available in the dean's office for review by the School of Music
Tenure and Promotion (T&P) Committee members for two weeks.
T&P Committee members will have the option of reviewing the material
and submitting a written position to the Dean. Following this,
the dean will determine whether the Probationary Faculty member's
file is satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
11.
In
the case of an unsatisfactory appeal ruling from the dean, the faculty
member may be directed by the dean to proceed directly to the implementation
of a Development Plan, or may be terminated, according to the schedule
in the USC Faculty Manual. Should a Development Plan be required,
the process as specified in the School of Music Post Tenure Review
Procedures (sections VII) will be followed.